Another cause of fire, which has been written about a great deal, is static electricity, which is generated when gasoline is filtered through chamois under certain conditions. Very many funnels have a chamois strainer. Gasoline poured upon chamois creates static electricity. It is all right if the funnel touches the gas tank, but if it does not, a static spark is very likely to cross the gap and set fire to the volatilizing gasoline. The remedy, of course, is either not to use chamois or to see that there is a perfect connection between the funnel and the tank.
Since one of the chief troubles is the back-firing when the car is started, it would be well for the owner, when starting the car in cold weather, to enrich the mixture slightly; this will prevent the back-firing, and when the engine is well started the mixture may be adjusted to the proper proportion. Most cars now have a means of enriching the mixture on the dash.
It ought not to be necessary to suggest the wisdom of carrying along one of the approved fire extinguishers, but it is a fact that very many owners “take a chance.” The insurance companies make a reduction in the premium when a fire extinguisher is carried, which is a pretty good indication that they consider it a valuable accessory on the car. Some companies insist that one be carried.
Inasmuch as fires may occur even with the most careful operator, from causes beyond his control, such as the accidental short-circuit, or the carelessness of others, it may be out of place to suggest that the owner of a valuable car, or one who really cares, insure his car. Rates are fairly reasonable, and if insurance ever is good it surely ought to be in the case of an automobile, where several thousands of dollars are often centered in a very small compass.
CHAPTER XXXIII
DON’T RUN AWAY FROM A FIRE
Whatever may be the cause of a fire in your automobile, do not run away from it. Stay and fight the fire. Often the utmost haste is needed in getting out of the car when a fire starts, but on the way out grab the fire extinguisher and turn to use it. Do not be afraid that there will be an explosion and run. There will be none, and if you work fast you may save serious damage to the car. Keep your head and fight.
The presumption is that you will have a good extinguisher on the car. Two would be better and more in keeping with a high-priced car, both placed where they can be gotten at instantly, for gasoline fires spread mighty fast. The causes of fires have been pretty well discussed in the preceding chapter, and the fact that care will prevent all but a negligible percentage of fires. Back-fire, for instance, may be made harmless by placing over the air intake a screen of wire gauze, such as is used in a miner’s safety lamp. To prevent shutting off some of the air and deranging the carburetor, the screen should be much larger than the opening of the intake. It can be made in bulb shape and clamped, soldered, or wired in position, and it ought not to require more than average gumption to fit such a device on any carburetor. Make sure it is safety gauze.
There are several forms of gaskets advertised for this purpose, but all so far noticed were to go between the carburetor and intake and are too likely to cause condensation of the gasoline to be recommended for use. Particularly in cold weather would there be a likelihood of condensation of vaporized or partly vaporized gasoline. But with the wire-gauze screen above described the sting of back-fire will be gone, as no blaze could pass through it and so reach the gasoline fumes which might be in the drip pan.
One cause of fire not often mentioned because of its rarity, would be from sparks from the magneto or generator brushes, or from the breaker points which might be hot enough to ignite gasoline fumes and therefore are to be guarded against.
Since gasoline fumes are heavier than air usually the magneto and generator are set high enough to be above the danger point; and where the magneto is between the cylinders on the V-shaped installation, there would be no danger. On marine engines, however, high installation is being featured lately to offset this very danger.